Books
Keeping up with series, especially young adult series, is not always an easy task. There are new ones cropping up every week, and still more with second, third and even fourth books to get to. Sometimes it feels like you can hardly finish one trilogy without another one forming in its place. On top of all the standalones you've got to read, not to mention all of those adult releases, it can feel like you're drowning under a pile of unread books. It can keep a lot of us from starting much-talked-about series to begin with, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Because all series must end eventually and when they do we as slack readers get to enjoy something the most committed never get to: the series binge read. Once all the books in a series are out it is not only so much easier to bang them all out, but you don't have to suffer the dreaded cliffhangers and year-long (or sometimes more) suffering between releases. In the last year alone tons of young adult series, trilogies and duologies have been completed; so now is the time to get your hands on them. Below are 11 of the most obsession-worthy series to sink your teeth into this summer.
1The 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' Trilogy by Jenny Han
Lara Jean has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.
2'The Winner's Curse' Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, 17-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
3The 'Shades of Magic' Trilogy by V.E. Schwab
Kell is one of the last travelers — magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city. There's Grey London, without any magic; Red London, where magic is revered; and White London, where people fight to control magic and the magic fights back. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the ambassador of the Maresh empire, carrying monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler. It's a hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.
4'The Remnant Chronicles' Trilogy by Mary E. Pearson
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance. Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive — and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets — secrets that may unravel her world — even as she feels herself falling in love.
5The 'A Court Of Thorns And Roses' Trilogy by Sarah J. Maas
When 19-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin — one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin — and his world — forever.
6'The Queen Of The Tearling' Trilogy by Erika Johansen
Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom's haunted past... or that its fate will soon rest in her hands. Long ago, Kelsea's forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nations who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Mortmesne, ruled by the cunning Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea's 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of the Queen's Guard—loyal soldiers who protect the throne—have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.
7'The Raven Cycle' Series by Maggie Stiefvater
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them — not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys; known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, who is on a quest that includes three other Raven Boys: Adam, Ronan, and Noah. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
8The 'Monsters Of Verity' Duology by V.E. Schwab
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.
9The 'Passenger' Duology by Alexandra Bracken
In one devastating night, Etta Spencer loses everything. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never known. Until now. Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from servitude to the powerful Ironwood family. But now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp.
10'The Wrath & The Dawn' Duology by Renee Ahdieh
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Each night Khalid takes a new bride only for her to be dead come morning. When Shahrzad's best friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be and she finds herself falling in love. Still, she resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and to be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?
11The 'Six Of Crows' Duology by Leigh Bardugo
Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker has been offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams. But to claim it, he'll have to pull off a seemingly impossible heist: Break into the notorious Ice Court (a military stronghold that has never been breached); retrieve a hostage (who could unleash magical havoc on the world); survive long enough to collect his reward (and spend it). Kaz needs a crew desperate enough to take on this suicide mission and dangerous enough to get the job done and he knows exactly who: five of the deadliest outcasts the city has to offer. Together, they just might be unstoppable... if they don't kill each other first.
